LONG BIO​

​

It can be difficult to define the composer, improviser, multi-instrumentalist and artist Aleks Schürmer, whose performances can range from period instruments to ambient electronics—and everything in between. Exploring the underlying sameness of all things, Aleks' work merges disparate genres, historical periods, and cultural interests. An Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, his work has been generously funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, FACTOR and the Société des arts technologiques.

 

Aleks is co-Artistic director​ of the chamber music series Autour de la flûte, playing historical and modern flutes of all sizes, as well as the ondes Martenot and theremin. Aleks is also the founder and director of Hadron, a chamber ensemble of variable geometry. Aleks was named one of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's «30 Under 30» in 2004.

​

As a thereminist, Aleks has notably performed with l'Orchestre de la francophonie and the McGill Symphony Orchestra, and accompanied Québec pop singer Klô pelgag in concert and on television (Le Show à Rousseau).  He has recorded theremin for two VR films by Cirque du Soleil— Dreams of “O” and the Emmy award winning Inside the Box of Kurios. He was Musical Consultant and thereminist for the 2023 film Mistral spatial and appeared on television screens across Canada playing theremin in the Business Development Bank of Canada's national ad campaign "Bulbs".  He has appeared discussing and playing theremin on CBC, CTV and Global News.

​

With a strong interest in technology, Aleks was Artist-in-Residence at the Société des arts technologiques in 2014 creating a new immersive work for the SAT's massive 18 metre projection dome and multi-channel system. « À ses derniers pas, entrant dans la boue », an album of his compositions for theremin, Haken continuum and piano—with French theremin virtuoso Grégoire Blanc—was released in 2022 on the Centredisc label to glowing reviews.

​

As a historical flutist—for which he holds a Mmus from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University—Aleks plays four centuries of music on period instruments. He has performed under the direction of Kent Nagano, with late-violinist Jeanne Lamon and her orchestra Tafelmusik, and with Arion, Ensemble Caprice, Les Idées heureuses, La bande Montréal Baroque, Notturna and others.

​

Aleks has appeared at Festival Phénomena, Festival Santa Teressa, ImagiNation Festival, M for Montreal, Montreal Baroque Festival, Montreal Fringe Festival, NXNE, Piss in the Pool, Pop Montreal International Music Festival, Suoni per il popolo, Tangente, Toronto Music Gallery and he has worked with countless popular music artists as session musician, arranger and producer.

 

From Cinéma d'auteur to Romantic comedy, Aleks scores several films a year including films for Lifetime and Hallmark networks, and regularly receives commissions from musicians for new concert works.